Teachers’ Unions Spend Big, Reap Little in Elections

November 15, 2016Daarel Burnette IIEducation Week

Over the last eight years, Republican-dominated statehouses and a
White House bent on accountability dealt teachers’ unions a wave
of setbacks on their key issues, whittling away at bargaining
rights, instituting merit pay, expanding charter school and
choice programs, and making budget cuts leading to teacher
layoffs.

So this campaign season, the American Federation of Teachers and
the National Education Association bolted out the gate early with
presidential endorsements, a flood of campaign spending on
high-priority races and ballot measures, and plenty of
organizational muscle to push their agendas.